The latest proposal as part of the total Omanisation of the emirate’s workforce is aimed at banning all expat professionals from technical positions in the private health sector. After parliamentary debate and agreement, positions including laboratory technician, nursing, X-ray technician up to supervisor level, physiotherapist, pharmacist and medical profession auxiliary will only be open to Omani nationals.

According to recent media reports, an increase in the numbers of Omani applying for technical health sector positions have increased, with nursing staff percentages of total employees now at over 80, pharmaceutical percentages even higher at 90 and the number of Omani dentists now making up some 95 per cent of all dental practitioners in the emirate.

In a further shock aimed expats working in the sales and purchases sector, those affected have been told their visas will no longer be renewed. At the same time, the emirate’s Human Rights Commission announced that children born to expat fathers and Omani mothers are to be exempted from paying public school tuition fees.

The quoted reason behind the decision would seem to have been laws regarding discrimination against women and the rights of children. This news may be more than welcome for expats cutting back on expenses, and Dubai’s private schools are now disallowed from increasing their fees for the 2020/2021 academic year following poor inspection results.